Cardi index and signal therefor



Get 23, 1928;

A. H. HEILAND CARD INDEX AND SIGNAL THEREFOR Filed March 25, 1927Patented @et. 23,

ALBERT H. I-IEILAND, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CARD INDEX AN D SIGNAL THEREFOR.

Application filed March 25,

This invention relates to improvements in card indices, and moreparticularly to a shdable tab structure thereon, whereby a. signallingtab of suitable two-tone coloring may be moved from side to side withrespect to its mounting, thus exposing one or the other of its ends andindicating at a glance to any operator of the file and its contents thestatus of any account in accordance with the exposed end of the tab. For instance, all tabs showing red would indicate an overdue ordelinquent account, while the other tab ends of a difierent color, suchfor example as white, would indicate an account in good standing and notin need of attention. Thus an operator in looking over the card fileprovided with my improved form of signalling tabs can quickly andaccurately determine the accounts to be dealt with. W hen the accounthas been attended to the tab is re-positioned on the file card to exposethe white portion of the tab thus forming a signal for the next observerof the file contents.

Another object of the invention is that, the tabs and their relativeparts are constructed of such material that the entire card may be runthrough a typewriter, accounting machine or the like without injury tothe tab and without offering interference to the machine.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fullyhereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a view showing the face of any approved form of file indexcard, with my improved form of signal tab in operative engagementtherewith.

Figure 2, is a. modified form of tab structure in operative engagementwith a file card.

Figure 3, is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4, is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings Reference numeral 1indicates any preferred form and style of index card, having an invertedU shaped member 2 secured to its upper edge by any suitable means. Thememher 2 is open at both of its ends and is elevated from the edge ofthe card sufiiciently to siidably embrace tab member indicated at 41927. Serial No. 178,443.

is an aperture centrally located in the body oi the tab. 5 indicates apair of depressions or indentations in the member 2 so that when the tabis moved from side to side the depressions 5 will engage with theaperture at under the spring influence of the side walls of the memher2. In the modified form shown in Figure 2, I have provided a linger grip6 on the upper edge of the tab 3, and have provided a cutit ay portionin the member 2 indicated at 7 so that when the tab is moved from sideto side the linger grip 6 "ill contact with the ends of the cut-awayportion which thus iorm limit stops for the movement of the tab.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, 1 amaware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves toothers skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is 1. An index card or the like and a tab,means whereby said tab may be supported wholly beyond one edge of thecard, said tab being movable longitudinally of and relative to said edgefor indicating purposes, the tab being of materially less length thanthe length or the edge on which it is mounted.

2. An index card, a tab supporting means secured to and projectingbeyond one ed oi' the card, and a tab of materially less than said cardedge and slidable in said means to expose one or the other of the endsof the tab, the exposed end of the tab being arranged wholly beyond theedge to which the supporting means is secured the respective ends of thetab being differently marked.

3. An index card, a tab supporting means secured to and projectingbeyond one edge ot the card, a tab of materially less length tha saidcard edge and slidable in said means to expose one or the other of theends oi the tab, the exposed end of the tab being arranged wholly beyondthe edge to which the supporting means is secured, the respective endsoi the tab being differently marked, and means whereby the tab may beheld against casual displacement when in either position.

4. An index card, a housing secured to one edge of the card andprojecting beyond such edge, and a tab of materially less length thansaid edge and slidable in the housing to expose a selected end of thetab beyond the housing,

and Wholly beyond the edge to which the housing is secured, therespective ends of the tabs being differently colored.

5. An index card, it housing secured to one edge of the card andprojecting beyond such W concealed by the housing.

6. An index card, a housing secured to one edge of the card andprojecting beyond such edge, and a tab slidable in the housing to exposea selected end of the tab beyond the housing, the remaining portion ofthe tab being concealed by the housing, the respective ends of the tabsbeing differently colored, the housing being indented to provide aprojection to hold the tab against casual displacement when in operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ALBERT H. HEILAND.

